Who’s Gonna Pick You Up Tonight
#39 of Hockey Hunk Season 4
Rory's back to work for good, but does he have what he needs to become the BOSS? Find out!
Hehhey, muffins!
I again apologize for the delay for this chapter - sometimes the so-called real life throws something your way, and you just have to lay down the old quill and ink...but only for a little while! I'm back now, and I even wrote an extra long chapter, so that you all have plenty to enjoy while reading, I hope!
As always, your feedback ,comments, votes and faves will be appreciated - also remember that all of these will also help others to find these stories to enjoy and read as well! You guys rock!
Have a good read y'all!
*
I want to see the manager."
The dared words came out of the muzzle of a stout otter, standing on the other side of the counter and staring back to me with deep, dark, slightly watery eyes that seemed to drill their way into my very consciousness with their gaze.
Oh my...
My tail made a quick nervous flick of a number seven behind my Rory-rump, my left paw, the one not resting against the counter clenched into a cumbersome fist, and the covers of my happyhappily smiling muzzle twitched with the polite customer service grin I was working hard to maintain. I swallowed and glanced over towards cash register number one, womanned by none other than the voluptuous, purruptuous cougar. She looked back to me, an ear flicked, obviously, and she gave me the most subtle of nods before her eyes fell back to the display of her register.
Well...that was my cue...I swallowed and made my call.
"I am the manager, actually," I spoke as I bestowed my full attention to the otter. "How can I help you today?"
The otter lifted up a rumpled pharmacy carrier bag, which he then placed onto the counter and proceeded to dig into it. The thin plastic rustled and my ears flicked on their own accord, while I watched the proceeding continue, the otter snuffling while he worked and finally unpeeled a book from the bag. The book was placed lying down on the counter, where I identified it as a copy of "The Lover For All Years" by Adalmina Woolsworth. Even without the name emblazed on the cover with golden letters, I was pretty sure that I would have identified the author simply from the pastel-colored image of an antebellum vixen belle swooning on the balcony of her Gone with the Wind plantation mansion.
I swallowed instinctively.
"What seems to be the problem?" I asked.
Okay...wait for it...wait for it...if this really is a classic case of "I'm returning this book because the recipient didn't like it as a gift", I should be ready to handle it...
The otter blinked and then, grabbing the book again into his paws, leafed through the pages until he seemed to be finding what he was looking for, and slammed the book down to the counter again, holding it open.
"It's missing pages!" the otter grunted. "Look, here...here's 256...and here, turning the next page..."
He turned the page, pressing a webbed finger down next to the tiny numbers on the bottom of the page.
"And here is 264!" the otter slapped the floor with his tail. "It's missing pages!"
I blinked, looking quietly at the book, at the pointing finger, the otter, Marge...who was still pretending to be really busy rubbing away an imaginary stain from the edge of the cash register...still letting me the be boss, as we had agreed that I could try, occasionally, under her supervision...
"Well, then!" I said, my ears jumping, "It really seems that this book is damaged or faulty..."
The otter suddenly slammed the book shut, loud and sudden enough that it made my tailtip jump towards the roof before my appendage returned to its normal non-erect state.
"My wife was damn disappointed!" the otter grumbled. "I got it for her as a wedding anniversary present and she hasn't been able to read beyond page 256 because of the missing pages!"
"Of course, of course," I nodded rapidly, still glad that I hadn't had any fingers crushed between the covers of that glossy tome. "Would you like to replace it or have your money back on the faulty product?"
"Replace it of course!" the otter let out a wheezing chuckle. "She got this far and she sent out to fix it right away!"
"Aha", I kept on happyhappy-smiling, "then better not keep her waiting!"
"Well I hope not," the otter chortled.
""If I could see your receipt, then, and I could see for a new copy," I said, still smiling.
The otter's face seemed to tense as I spoke that, and I knew that I'd hit the sore spot that I had dared for. This happened all too often with returns, even if they were for a wholly legitimate reason such as this, a misprint if I ever saw one. That was definitely not a problem...but missing the receipt was.
"Well I bought it here only last week..."
"I'm afraid I do need the receipt," I held my ground. "For accounting purposes."
That sounded official enough, huh?
I was all too aware that Marge was gauging my every response, my every word and my actions, as I tried to be as professional and managerial as possible, dealing with this potentially difficult customer in front of me, who had just encountered his first share of the dared bureaucracy. I really hoped that I was doing well...I really hoped this was going to go well...go on then...
The otter shrugged and stuffed his paw into his pocket, out of which came a wallet, which he then popped open. Soon, a series of rumpled paper slips dropped onto the counter, followed by a few more once he dug into the compartment meant for storing cash...and then some more...all dropping to the counter like snowflakes on a grey-clouded morning...whispering cold air and winter...
Where the hell did that come from? It was just an annoyed otter leafing through the receipts, trying to unfold them and finding the one particular he was looking for, belonging to my store. Judging from the good dozen or so on the counter, he really liked his shopping, and never threw away his receipts...
"Damn...no...no..."
"Mason!"
I almost jumped when Marge called out the wolf's name, and my eyes flicked between the cougar and then the fratboy, whom I spotted appearing from amidst the shelves, slowly walking towards the stairs to his usual spot, where he had been going, before now being summoned by Marge. The wolf walked over slowly, glancing at the busily huffing otter, me, and Marge. I kinda got the feeling that he didn't really want to look at me too long, even If I tried to give him the most gentle of my looks...and still he walked past the otter and stationed himself by Marge.
"Mason, could you fetch one copy of "The Lover For All Years", it's a Woolsworth," Marge stated to the wolf, whom quickly nodded and then hurried away, bushy tail swishing about behind him.
"Damn, no...crap...no..."
I'd still have to deal with the wolf, I knew as much, but this really wasn't the place...or time...or damn...well, this was the place, because I knew that I would have to deal with this whole workplace situation at some point, so that I could still come to work every day feeling normal about things. It just wouldn't do that Mason would be jumpy around me or something, thinking that I was going to be thinking something weird about him now that I...knew something about him that he probably didn't want to share with me, at least not yet. It was hardly my business, really, but since he was making it into an issue...and I guess I was making it into an issue myself, since...I just didn't know what to say...I wasn't sure what to say...what to do...
It should be easy, I suppose. Just talk about it, quickly, maybe, ask him if he wanted to talk about it, about the picture or about anything going on in his life...or about the date...that damn date that ended up violence, tears, and a drunken phone call...and I still wasn't any wiser upon what brought that on...and what that hysterical girl had to do with it...oh damn...hooo damn...
"Is this...hmm...yeah!"
The otter lifted a piece of paper up victoriously before he placed it back down onto the counter, on top of the disgraced book. Those webbed paws worked quickly to smoothen it out, and I soon saw our name printed on the top, along with the details of the purchase ,and all importantly, the barcode on the bottom.
"Well indeed!" I smiled as I grabbed the manual barcode reader and quickly flashed it through the thankfully smooth enough bardcode, before I made the required taps on the touch-sensitive screen. "And indeed it was 21.95...and you want a new product..."
"I'll be sleeping on the couch if I don't bring it back soon...and I had to go to buy some pork chops and milk too..." the otter moved his weight from one footpaw to another while he waited anxiously for my verdict.
"Better not keep her waiting then!" I said as I made the required tapping on the computer, "and I think there's the book coming..."
The otter turned to look in the direction of the sauntering wolf, who had now appeared clutching a volume identical to the one lying abandoned on the counter. He carefully placed it onto the counter about my reach, and I took it, and smiled in thankyou to him. Mason just gave me a look and slinked away without saying anything else. I hurried to smile to the otter and picked up the book, and was about to run it past the bar code scanner, when the otter harrumphed.
"I'd rather if you check that it has all the pages."
My paws froze, and I made sure that I was smiling happyhappily when I nodded.
"Better be safe, huh?" I smiled as I carefully opened the book and began to leaf through it, getting a good whiff of new book smell to my nosepad while the pages flipped past my fingers at a good speed.
"Yeah."
A beaver wandered over to Marge's register while I made a point of checking every page of the Adalmina Woolsworth novel for their existence, and she began to chat her up casually while I worked through the book, scanned it, printed a new receipt, and brought out a red carrier bag from below the counter, and snatched a small slip of glossy paper from a special box we kept under there as well.
"And for your trouble, here is an Albrecht Brothers gift certificate that will give you five dollars off any purchase you make in our store over 10 dollars, and it is renewable here and also at our outlet at the Stepford Center," I explained as I held the slip of paper up and displayed it to the otter before I placed it into the bag along with the book.
"Thanks," the otter rumbled as he grabbed the bag.
"And I am very sorry about this, it just happens sometimes, and we'll be sending this back to the printers, of course," I explained as I picked up the faulty book from the counter, "it just sometimes happens when the binding process goes wrong, it's one in a thousand case, but it has to happen to someone. We are truly sorry about this."
"Well it wasn't anything that wasn't easily fixed," the otter replied. "Thank you, now."
"Thank you, and hope to see you soon!" I happy-happied.
The otter gave me one final look before he circled past the eagerly chattering beaver and then made for the exit, and I zeroed in the cash register to wait for the next client, rolled my shoulders, and allowed myself a small moment of glee over my successful handling of what could have potentially been a very difficult client. There was nothing out of the ordinary about this one, of course, everything went how it usually did, when things went fine, but...still...being observed by Marge, surreptitiously, I was sure of that, and...graded...and...well I wasn't sure. Maybe I wasn't up to being the boss. Maybe I lacked leadership and customer service skills needed for that, or maybe...
"...and it's such a nice day out there, and these paperbacks are just great for reading outside, and now that it isn't too hot but the sun is great, I bet you'll be having a great time!" Marge was chattering happily to the beaver, who smiled back broadly and held her rustling carrier bag close to herself now that it had been disposed to her.
"Oh yes, and since it's the first day of my holiday..."
"Oh lucky you!" Marge purred.
"Oh I know..."
"Well you have fun for us too, and enjoy your books!" Marge beamed.
"I sure will!" the beaver grinned. "Thank you again!"
"Thank you again, and see you soon!" Marge chirped.
"Byyyyeeee!"
"Byeeee!"
The beaver sailed away, completely charmed by my boss, whom purred, let her tail flipper about, her paws stretched out, giving away more of her bodice, of course, due to the pose, and from my angle, I was entitled to a lot of cleavage, though I hurried to meet her eyes as soon as she looked up to me. Marge straightened herself up and parked herself sideways, so that she could observe me...and I knew that I was going to get my judgment call.
"Sooo?" I stated, clasping my paws together, standing there as relaxed as I could and trying not to collide with the stool that we had stashed behind the counter still, in case I had to take a sitting rest and give my leg a moment to recuperate.
"What?" Marge purred innocently.
I flicked my ears and felt my mane puff up a bit as I faced up to the small woman in front of me.
"Well, how did I do?" I whispered, low and rumbling, so that we wouldn't be bothering the clients milling about without or corporate chitchat.
Marge simply purred.
"How did you do?" she stated.
"Well..."
"How do you think you did?" she replied.
I folded my arms over my chest.
"So you want to go through that route..." I mused.
"I am entitled to," Marge winked.
I snuffled, but didn't stop smiling, as I gathered my thoughts.
"Well..."I said, "I helped a customer with a faulty item...and I explained the terms of exchange...and there were no problems. I also gave him the gift voucher, as per policy...I was polite...I was reasonable...easily approachable..."
What else? That I enjoyed long walks on the beach, used to be a member of the cheerleading team and that I wished for world peace?
"Hmmm....hmmm....hmmm..." Marge kept on nodding and hmmming.
I scratched my chin.
"And I showed authority...?"
"To a degree..."
I let my ears flop down.
"To a degree?"
"Well," Marge started, "You could have noticed Mason coming around and asking him to get the book while you sorted things out with the customer, instead of me doing it..."
"But you just did it!" I pointed out. "I was busy working with the guy and you just suddenly told Mason to fetch the book."
"Only because you didn't," Marge replied, now mimicking my posture by folding her arms across her bosom. "And you could have, and you could have saved some time, both from everyone, and from the customer waiting around in front of the counter, and possibly causing someone else having to wait extra minutes for service."
"Well there are two registers open..." I pointed out.
"You always have to act as if it's the worst case scenario," Marge chuckled, her tail flicking more broadly now, "imagine that this cash register had run out of printer paper, so we only had one register running...and you'd be going away fetching a book and sorting out the exchange..."
"We've got an extra register downstairs," I mused. "We could always tell furs to use that one while we fix this one up."
"What if the next customer would've been an old lady using a walker, or someone in a wheelchair? The downstairs is not exactly perfectly accessible..."
"Well then I would've sent Mason out to get the book while I fix the cash register," I interjected. "And maybe ask that old lady whether she'd need to take a seat for a moment. And then maybe show that wheelchair fur to our INSPIRATIONAL HANDICAPABLE TALES section, and maybe offer some delicious cookies..." my voice rose in pitch as my speed increased as well.
Marge chuckled.
"You know, if that was coming from Alex, that'd be funny..." she stated," but from you, it's just..."
Gaaaay?
_ _
"Creepy..." Marge stated, licking her lips.
"Sorry, sweetie," I smiled.
Marge's tail snapped against my ankles, and she finally let her paws fall down, too, slowly brushing over her still flat abdomen, the very same red-clothed belly that hid her special secret, and then let her paws rest on her sides. I sniffled at the sensation of that thick flap. It always felt a bit ticklish, after all.
"You are forgiven...especially if you dashed over to Minnie's diner to get me a takeaway d-caf and a delicious pastrami sandwich..." Marge purred.
I feigned outrage with my ears and my eyes and chuffed.
"But what would Goggy think?" I stated in shock. ""Didn't you already have lunch, anyway?"
"It was just a small salad!" Marge groaned. "I felt hungry half an hour after eating."
"Maybe Goggy should've packed you a bigger lunch, then."
"Reminds me that I should go shopping after work..." Marge mused, "I already emptied the fridge..."
"Are you supposed to be this hungry this early on?" I suggested, still keeping my voice down to make sure that my words would not reach sensitive lupine ears downstairs, for example.
Marge winked.
"I don't know, but as long as it gives me an excuse to tell you to run across the street to Minnie's to get me that pastrami sandwich..."
I pouted.
"You'd send someone who recently walked on crutches to do an errand?" I proposed.
"You bet I do!" Marge's tail flapped behind my knees now. "I'm sure the doctor ordered you to give that ass lots of exercise now that you are allowed to walk independently again, and I think we need some good man-butt here now that Alex is back to the shopping mall..."
I conjured up another outraged face and puffed out my chest.
"So you're saying I should start working out, too, to become a better boss?" I proposed.
"It never hurt any boss to be a bit burly..." Marge smiled.
"Burly huh..." I rumbled, considering how'd I look if I gained 50 pounds of muscle mass...hmmm...Victor style...
Murr...
"Oh yes...not just a bouncy ass like Alex, mind you...I like the whole package..."
Oh well, this was fun, but I could see shapes moving behind the front window - well more like ears, above the edges of the display stand that held some of our summer discount offers, and if they lingered on for more than a few seconds, you could usually predict that soon you'd see their owners prancing through the front door. Looking over the top of Marge's head now, I rolled my shoulders again and slowly pivoted to face my own cash register, preparing for that all too important first impression meeting.
Hello, and welcome to the Albrecht Brothers! How can I help you today?
_ _
Or should I start with a "Good day!" this time...hmmm...
Or hmm...
"Hello Marge, hello Rory, good day!"
Oh dear...
Tuft-tipped ears?
Check.
Mottles?
Check.
Shoulders?
Check.
Sexy British accent?
Check.
Shirt tight enough to show nipples if you used just a little bit of imagination?
Check.
Pants?
Unfortunately, check.
Earring?
Check.
Glasses?
Check.
Backpack?
Check.
Nice-smelling brown paper bag?
Check.
Known to snuggle and kiss various frat wolves?
Hoooo boy check.
"Haakon!" Marge lashed out before I had the chance to even close my muzzle that had reflexively fallen open in the face of the sheer stunning quality of the friendlily smiling exchange student lynx.
"Hello!" the lynx repeated, in that curious, purring accent that mixed that strange acquired Britishness with his natural Viking drawl. "Hi, Rory!"
Stupid sexy Haakon...
"Hello!" I smiled. "What's up? Enjoying your summer?"
"Ohh yes!" the skin-licking-shirted one declared. "Just hanging out and having fun and...stuff, heheh."
"Oh I bet," Marge interjected.
Haakon gave her another flashing smile for my cougarette co-worker.
"I just thought I'd bring Mason something nice to eat, I know he's got a long shift today and I was heading to the gym downtown so I thought I'd drop this over," Haakon lifted the small paper bag to view.
"He's just downstairs," I pointed the way with my thumb.
"Thanks, dude!"
Don't stare...don't stare...don't stare...don't stare...
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Thank you for reading my story! I hope you had a fun time, and that you'll comment now that you've read it...hopefully! *chuckle* Your feedback is always appreciated.
See you on Friday!